The large proportion of Argentinians of European descent are from recent 20th-century migrations; over one-third are of Italian origin. Indigenous peoples are now a minority, living mainly in Andean regions or in the "Gran Chaco." Over 85% of Argentinians are urban dwellers, with 40% living in the capital, Buenos Aires. In general, there is little ethnic tension. Bolivian and Paraguayan immigrants remain the poorest groups.
Catholicism and the extended family remain strong in Argentina and social and religious reunions are common. The family also forms the backbone of many successful businesses.
Women have a higher profile than in most Latin American states. Argentinian women were enfranchised before their French counterparts received the vote. Today, many enter professional fields and rise to positions of influence in service businesses such as the media. The exception is politics. Eva Per≤n, who inspired the musical "Evita," did help to push women into a more active political role in the 1940s and 1950s, but this trend was reversed under military rule.
